Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 1 Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s statement of purpose states that this is a therapeutic home that provides a trauma-informed service that supports the individual needs of young people. The home can accommodate up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not currently have a registered manager. An acting manager is in post, and leaders are actively seeking to recruit a permanent manager.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first Ofsted inspection since the home was registered on 28 February 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between the child currently living at the home and carers are warm, caring and trusted. The inspector saw the child laugh and joke with staff, share plans and engage in problem-solving together. Staff are patient, respectful and empathetic, while maintaining consistent guidance and boundaries. This provides safety and security for the child, particularly during times when they are emotionally distressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is evidence throughout the home that the child is involved in making day-to- day choices. Their bedroom is decorated to their liking, and they have painted beautiful illustrations on their walls. There are lists and notes in the kitchen of things they wish to purchase or events they plan to do. Their artwork and photos are displayed throughout the home. This provides the home with a family feel that is unique to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers promote the importance of education and support children to do well. Despite not attending school for at least two years, the child is engaging well with a home tutor and wants to return to school in the autumn. There are clear plans in place to help make this happen.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s plans are detailed and well considered. The child’s behaviours are well known, and staff have clear strategies to respond to the child in ways that work. Plans are used effectively by the team and are accessible to them for reassurance in times of crisis. The team ensures that all medical professionals know the child’s immediate needs by providing their plans when they attend hospital.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is very good multi-disciplinary communication and coordination. There is a large team of professionals supporting the child, and managers navigate this well. The child is involved in their care planning and can say what works for them. This leads to plans working for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff give the child lots of opportunities to experience a range of activities. Despite their health needs currently limiting some activities, staff ensure that the child has positive experiences and can choose things to do during the day that are fun and engaging. The child has small pets that are well cared for and provide a therapeutic benefit for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s social worker reported that they have made considerable progress since moving to the home. Although their behaviours continue to pose significant risks, they are settled. The child has told them that they like living at the home and want to remain there. The social worker thinks that this is due to the strength of the relationships between staff and the child and the sense of security and safety they provide for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraint has been used in the home. Records of this are generally good, with sufficient detail. However, not all records of restraints have been saved effectively on the home’s recording system and are found in different places. It is therefore difficult to immediately know how many restraints have occurred. Incidents of restraint have been reviewed by managers, but these are not always dated. Debriefs with staff, and especially discussions with children after a restraint has happened, are of good quality.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond calmly and with empathy to incidents of self-harm by the child. A specialist mental health team has formulated the child’s safety plan, and this is followed carefully by the team. The home is involved in regular meetings and updates after incidents to ensure that plans continue to promote the child’s safety and staff responses are effective. Staff keep the child safe, despite their high-risk behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Changes have been made to the home to reduce the risk of harm to the child. For example, the shower was changed to avoid the risk of ligatures being used. This was due to advice from mental health professionals. However, the rationale for managing risk has not consistently been recorded effectively on the child’s file.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risks are well understood by the team. Risk assessments are detailed and clear. They are updated regularly by managers and shared with the team. This creates a dynamic approach to responding to risks in the home, which is crucial in keeping the child safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When allegations are made against staff, managers respond to these swiftly and effectively. They seek the advice and guidance of safeguarding professionals, both internally and externally. Investigations are thorough, and lessons are learned.

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good

The management team has experienced several recent changes. The previous registered manager and deputy manager no longer work at the home. This has caused some instability for the staff. Leaders also accept that some areas of management practice have not been as robust as expected. The home does not currently have a registered manager but has an experienced acting manager who is driving improvements. Leaders and managers are taking measures to appoint a permanent registered manager.

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good

There is excellent communication between the home and other professionals. All professionals who were spoken to provided very positive feedback about how the home engages with them. They also highlighted how managers advocate for the child, ensuring that their voice is heard. This helps professionals to devise plans that support the child most effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 5 Staff provided positive feedback about the support they receive from leaders and managers. They all said that they have access to informal supervision, advice and guidance whenever they need it. However, formal supervision has not taken place regularly, with one staff member having to ask for it. Leaders and managers are aware of this and have actioned a plan to rectify this.

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good

Managers respond effectively and swiftly to complaints. Relationships with the wider community are valued and repaired when necessary.

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good

Leaders and managers provide a warm and welcoming environment for children. The home is beautifully presented. However, the office, which is a prominent room in the house, does not provide a homely space, despite recent reconfiguration. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 2 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that case records can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them, are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 61 and 62, paragraphs 14.2 and 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. It should have a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes 2 Inspire Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lumonics House, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Rugby CV21 1TQ

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2719389 8 and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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